Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	holy_a	keep_v	sabbath_n	2,405	5	9.4746	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A95926	The spirit of prayer, or, A discourse wherein the nature of prayer is opened, the kinds of prayer are handled, and the right manner of praying discover'd, several cases about this duty are resolved from Eph. 6, l8 ... : unto which is added a direction for the attaining the gift of prayer, that family-duty may not be omitted, nor secret duty discouraged through inability of utterance and expression / by Nathanael Vincent.	Vincent, Nathanael, 1639?-1697.	1674 (1674)	Wing V421; ESTC R26350	87,998	210

good work Reprobate Mercies do not melt them judgments do not break them and Oh how little have all the means of Grace mended them There is so much of pride of atheisin infidelity impurity earthlyness hatred of the Lord and Holiness stubornness obstinacy by nature in our hearts that we are not able to mention or conceive the thousandth part of it Oh what cause have we to be earnest for that new heart and that new spirit which is promised in thy new new Covenant We are all as an unclean thing and all our Righteousness are but filthy Raggs the corruption of our natures defiles our very best Duties Satan is not to be blamed so much for tempting as our hearts for yeilding unto his Temptation The best of us have as sinful natures as the worst of men Actual sin is to be confessed after this manner VVho can tell how oft he has offended who can understand his errours O Lord I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face unto thee for my iniquities are increased over my head and my trespass is grown up unto the Heavens VVho can number the Stars of the Sky the sands of the Sea or the days of Eternity or reckon up his sins in order before thee I was an early sinner a transgressor from the VVomb and have not left off sinning to this very day I have broken thy Laws though they are so holy just and good I have counted the yoak heavy though thy Commandments are so far from being grievous that they are more to be desired than the finest Gold and sweeter than the Hony and the hony Comb. How far have I been from loving the Lord with all my heart with all my soul with all my mind with all my strength Nay insteed of this I have been an hater of God and secretly wished there were no God to punish sin that I might have sinned with greater freedom I have been a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God Be astonished O ye Heavens at this for I have committed two great evils I have forsaken the Fountain of living waters and have hewn out unto my self Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no water I have not worshipped thee in Spirit and in Truth without fear of thy jealousie I have mocked thee to thy Face I have been a meer Idolater for I have idolized the world and the things of the world which are vanity and have forgotten the alsufficient God days without number I have taken thy Name in vain and prophaned thy Sabboths which thou hast so strictly commanded I should remember to keep holy I have wofully failed in my Duty to my Neighbour though I ought and was bound to love him as my self I have sinned against the Gospel it self though it contain the best tidings that ever were brought unto the sons of men How shall I escape who have neglected so great Salvation I have out-done the very Devils themselves they never rejected mercy for 't was never offered to them they never refused a Saviour for no Saviour was ever sent to visit and recover them Lord I have not believed as I ought the report of the Gospel though it be so faithful and worthy of all acceptation How long have I lived without Christ without Hope and without God in the world Thou hast out-bid all others and hast offered infinitely better things than the world can thou hast offered pardon grace nay glory honour and Immortality and yet the offer has been despised I have been apt to count the Gospel foolishness though it be the wisdom of God and a Mystery which the Angels admire and desire to look into I have not hearkned to the Voyce of the great Prophet I have not reverenced thy Son who has spoken to me and therefore deserve to be cut off from among thy people Thy Son is a merciful and faithful high Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconcilation for the sins of the people He has called upon me to come to him for rest but I would not come that I might have life His Righteousness is a perfect and everlasting Righteousness yet I have gon about to establish my own righteousness and have not submitted my self to the righteousness of God I have placed a carnal confidence in my own strength though it be but meer weakness and relied upon my duties though God might damn me for the best of them if he should be extream to mark what 's amiss in them The Lord Jesus is incomparably the best master but I have refused to obey I have called him Lord Lord but have not don the things that he sayes I have refused to take his Yoak upon me though his yoak be an easie yoak and his burthen so light a burthen his service I have not liked though 't is perfect freedom I have broke his bands asunder and cast away his cords from me I deserve to be dash'd in peices by his iron Rod who refused to submit unto the scepter of his word I have been called to repent and encouraged thereunto but have remained impenitent I have made my heart like an adamant stone and refused to be ashamed Sin was the cause of Christs sufferings it makes the whole creation groan 't is that which has murthered millions of Souls 't is the cause of all the horrour and despair and sorrows and torment which the damned undergo and yet how light a matter have I esteemed it Ah! fool that I have been to make a mock of sin and count it a pastime to do wickedly My sins O Lord are highly aggravated Light is come into the world but I have loved darkness more then light because my deeds are evil Thy will has been plainly told me and I have known my duty and yet have done the contrary and deserves to be beaten with many stripes I have had experience of the riches of thy goodness and forbearance and long suffering and yet all has not lead me to repentance When fair means prevailed not thou hast tried foul But though then hast smitten me I have not grieved thou hast even consumed me but I have refused to receive correction I have made my Face harder than a Rock and have refused to return The Spirit has striven with me but like a stifnecked wretch I have resisted the holy Ghost and thou mightest justly resolve he should strive no more with me We judg O Lord and condemn our selves in thy presence Thou really and truly hatest sinne in us as well as others Thou sparedst not the Angels that sinned against thee Thou sparedst not the Old World but didst bring the Floud upon them Thou didst turn the Cities of S●dom and Gomorrah to ashes Nay thy Son himself was not spared when sin was laid to his charge Oh what a wonder of mercy is it that we are spared to this day We deserve the sorest of temporal Judgments Thou mightest appoint over us Terrour Consumption and the burning-Ague we have

prayer strength is obtained for the performance of every Duty I have added a short treatise concerning the gift of prayer be-because many are weak and unexercised in this Duty and I have furnished them with Scripture expressions which are without controversy the best of all and by practise and diligence their ability may be increased These Sermons were beggd from Heaven I follow them with prayer that from thence they may be effectual not only to those that have desired the publishing of them but unto all others unto whose hands the providence of God shall bring them Nathanael Vincent Pray before you Read Correct these ERRATAES PAge 2. lin 31. for dart r. darts p. 9. l. 18 for vow r. voice l. 19. blot out and those things onely must be directed unto God alone p. 12. l. 22. for God ever r. Gods ear p. 18. l. 6. for in our directory r. is our directory l. 9. for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 21. l. 4. blot out and. p. 26. l. 11 for price r. prize p. 33. l. 3. for which r. that p. 37. l. 14. for or the rock r. for the rock p. 62. l. 29. for innumeration r. ennumeration p. 69. l. 19. for thee r. this p. 72. l. 25. for carnal desires r. carnal designs p. 73. l. 10. for veins r. reins p. 77. l ult for Spirti r. Spirit p. 97. l 19. for hirado r. hirudo p. 100. l. 9. for emfulness r. Sinfulness p. 122 l. 10. for is r. are p. 110. l. 7. for exalted r. excelled p. 146 for night r. nigh p. 167. l. 13. for court r. coasts Eph. 6. 18. Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit and Watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints THe Apostle looking upon the Ephesians as militant Saints and fighting not against Flesh and Blood but against the Principalities and Powers of Darkness he instructs them towards the latter end of this Chapter how they might become more than Conquerors To this end he tells them first of all where their strength lay they must be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might v. 10. and then gives them a compleat Armour which being put on and the several pieces of it skilfully used the wiles of Satan will be frustrated and themselves enabled to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand 1. They must be girded about with the girdle of Truth By Errour Satan has great advantage how many like Children are tossed too and fro by every wind of Doctrin but a judgment rightly informed and well settled that buys the Truth and will by no means sell it has a great influence unto a Christians stedfastness and growth in Grace 2. They must have on the Breast-plate of Righteousness they must be Righteous in heart Righteous in sincerity A Conscience purged from dead works is a better defence than a wall of Brass Satan cannot so easily disquiet them that are sincere neither is he able to corrupt them their holiness being true sin is hated the allurements unto sin are contemned and God is followed hard after 3. Their Feet must be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace They must be encouraged by that Peace which the Gospel publishes to run the way of Gods Commandments and that though those ways are never so difficult and unpleasant to flesh and blood they must hold fast the profession of their Faith and depart from Evil and go in the path that is called holy though by thus doing they never so much expose and make themselves a prey 4. Above all they must take the Shield of Faith whereby they may quench the fiery dart of the Wicked Satans Temptations are Darts he does design our wounding our pain our death in shooting of them And these Darts may well be called fiery they are shot from Hell and an Hell in the Conscience they make if they are not quenched but Faith is a shield to repel and beat them back Faith makes application of the Righteousness and strength of Christ and by this means not only former wounds are asswaged and healed but the soul is more secured for the future 5. The Helmet of Salvation must cover their heads in this day of Battel with evil Angels A lively hope of salvation is very encouraging both unto patient continuance in well-doing and also unto suffering for the sake of Righteousness 6. The Apostle tells them that the Sword of the spirit which is the Word of God must be made use of If this word be understood believed thought on loved stood in awe of if it thus abide in us we shall be strong and overcome the evil one These are the pieces of the Armour of God But in this Combate with the Devil is there not need of Auxilary forces certainly there is a necessity of succour from Heaven The Captain therefore of our Salvation must be looked unto and divine aide continually implored and begged for By prayer we have power with God and power against our spiritual Enemies No wonder that the Apostle enjoyns Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit c. The Text may be divided into these parts 1. Here is a Duty commanded in the performance of which lies safety and that is Praying 2. The extent of this Duty it must be always and it must be with all Prayer 3. The due qualifications of this Duty which are these following 1. It must be in the Spirit 2. It must be with Watching 3. It must be with all perseverance 4. It must be with a publick spirit we must pray for all Saints as well as for our selves since they are engaged in the same War That these words may be the better understood I shall answer these several questions 1. Is there any difference between Prayer and Supplication I answer The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is translated Prayer does intimate we have to do with God in Prayer to him we are to direct our Petitions as an Hearer as an Helper The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is translated Supplication does intimate that there must be an acknowledgment of our own indigency and wants and a looking to the Alsufficient Lord for supply 2. Another question is this What is meant by Praying always I answer the Greek phrase which the Holy Ghost useth is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies To pray every opportunity that is offered This Text does give no encouragement unto the fond Sect of the Euchites who thought that prayer was to be their whole business No no there are other Duties which God calls for and which this of Prayer must not justle out But all those opportunities which are afforded for Prayer must be heedfully observed joyfully laid hold on and diligently improved This is to pray always It s said of Mephibosheth that he did eat always or continually at the Kings Table 2 Sam. ● 13. What shall we from hence infer

eye of dependance for all their expectation of Grace and Peace and Life is through Him alone 3. They that have the Spirit of Prayer are earnest for the fruits and graces of the Spirit that Love ●oy Peace Long suffering Gentlenesse Goodness Faith Meck●●sse Temperance All which the Apostle enumerates Gal. 5. 22. 23. may be in them and abound and they are restless in prayer for the mortification of the deeds of the flesh for they consider what is said Rom. 8. 13. If ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live 4. They that have the Spirit of prayer are enabled to go unto God as unto a Father Gal. 4. 6. And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Not but that doubts and fears may be in those that have the Spirit witnesse the Psalmist who cryed out will the Lord cast off for ever and will he be favourable no more is his mercy clear gon for ever And doth his promise fail for evermore hath God forgotten to be gracious hath he in anger shut up his tender mercyes Psal 77. 7. 8. 9. But at length and truly it may be long first ●aith gets the better of unbelief Many that are the Children of God cannot always call him Father yet even then they go to him and are no●quite beat off from him and there is a Secret Trust that he has some gracious respect to them and by this they are encouraged still to persist in prayer Use 3 of Exhortation Prize and value the Spirit of Prayer as without his help you cannot pray to any purpose so he can make prayer mightily pravailing The Spirit will create an holy boldness in your accesse to the throne of grace he will enlarge your hearts in this duty which enlargements are not without sweetness and great satisfaction The Spirit will draw up and indite such petitions for you as will not be denyed and give some encouraging intimation of your being accepted and answered in the beloved Now if you would have the Spirit of Prayer follow these directions 1. Rest not in the bare gift of Prayer let it not satisfy you that you have a praying tongue and no more all your Supplications are but a flattering the Lord with your lips and a lying unto him with your tongues while your hearts are not right with him Psal 78. 36 37. 2. Be sensible of your need of the Spirit light and liberty life and liveliness are the effects of the Spirit good motions holy affections are his off-spring without him you will be like Pharaohs Chariots when the wheels were taken off and drive on heavily but he can make your Souls like the Chari●ts of Amminadib Cant. 6. 12. 3. Part with every thing that grieves the Spirit foster not any lust or inordinate affection that may render your hearts an unpleasant habitation to him 4. Frequently beg for the Spirit and Especially in secret this will be a sign that you indeed desire him Plead the promises which you find Luk. 11. 13. If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts to your Children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit unto them that ask him And what God has promised Christ died that he might purchase nay Christ has prayed that the Spirit might be bestowed Joh. 14. 16. And therefore you may pray with the greater encouragement and assurance Thus concerning that third doctrine that Prayer when rightly performed is Supplication in the Spirit D. 4. In Prayer Watching is a necessary ingredient Watching is a duty which the great Prophet Christ himself frequently pressed and the injunction is general What I say unto you I say unto all Watch Mar. 13. 37 He knew that a Spiritual Lethargie is a disease most incident But if at any time surely in holy duties this heedlesness and sleepyness does discover it self we had need therefore to rouse up our Spirits that are so sluggish naturally Deborah speaks to her self four times Awake awake Deborah Awake awake utter a Song Judg. 5. 12. We have need thus again and again to call upon our Souls to Awake and be Watchful when about to utter a prayer Watching and praying are joyned in Scripture and not only so but Watching is required in Prayer Col. 4. 2. Continue in Prayer and Watch in the same with Thanksgiving so 1 Pet. 4. 7. But the end of all things is at hand be ye therefore Sober and Watch unto Prayer In the handling of this doctrine I shall first shew what we are to Watch against in Prayer Secondly What we are to Watch over Thirdly What we are to Watch for Fourthly What manner of Watching is required in Prayer Fifthly Give the reasons why Watching is so necessary Lastly make Application In the first place I am to tell you What we are to Watch against in Prayer 1. We must watch against indwelling corruption There is a Law in our Members that wars against the Law of our minds and this Law in our members commands quite contrary to the Law of God This Law says pray not at all but especially forbids seriousness and fervency in Prayer and if not watchful this Law will sway and over-rule us and bring us into captivity to the Law of sin VVe had need look to our selves for when we have thoughts of doing good evil will be present with us Rom. 7. 21. and if care be not taken the evil will hinder our doing of the good Oh how deep is the corruption of our Nature How desperat●ly wicked is the heart of man How great are the remainders of sin in those that are most renewed And since the remaining Flesh still does lust against the Spirit this Flesh is to be narrowly eyed that it may be weakned checked else 't will spoil all our services 2. When praying we must watch against the evil One. Satan likes not to see us at the Throne of Grace because he knows has felt the sufficiency of that grace that believers obtain there I besought the Lord says the Apostle when buffeted by the messenger of Satan 2 Cor. 12. 8. and the power of Christ so rested upon him that Satan had no power unless it were full sore against his will to keep him humble and to hinder his being exalted above measure The Devil therefore might and main withstands us in Prayer and how many are his wiles that he may keep us off from this most advantagious Duty Sometimes he objects the difficulty of Prayer somtimes he says 't is needless to spend so much time therein sometimes 't is fruitless and that little comes of all our Cryes and Tears sometimes he proposes other business to be don that we may be diverted sometimes he threatens to appear to us that he may affright us from the Mercy Seat How busy is our adversary the Devil we should be acquainted

Gospel and also promises to bestow 4. In prayer we are to watch over our Consciences that they perform their Office faithfully Their Office is to observe and condemn every miscarriage to urge unto a more spiritual manner of praying and to be restless and unquiet if prayer be omitted upon any slight pretence or the Male in the Flock be not offered to the Lord but a corrupt thing A tender Conscience is a blessing that can never be sufficiently valued this will cause the best to be given unto God this will not be satisfied till God approves and commends and what a Heaven follows upon prayer when the Lord himself and his Officer Conscience are both pleased But if you grow unwatchful over our Consciences and suffer them to fall asleep and become feared a thousand faults in prayer will be winkt at nay we shall be but little reproached for the total omission of it 5. In prayer we are to watch over our affections the more of affection in prayer the more pleasing the duty will be to God and the more pleasant to him that performs it There is enough in the Lord to draw forth the very strength of our affections How great is his goodness how able and powerful is his Hand to save how unsearchable are the riches of his grace Eye has n●t seen ear has not heard neither has ●● entred into the heart of man what he has prepared for those that wait upon him Isa 64. 4. We are inexcusable if all this move not our affections We should watch and observe when our affections do but begin to incline towards former Lovers and then compare those Lovers and the Lord together that other things may be contemned and our souls may even break for longing after God 6. In prayer we are to watch over our outward man our tongues and sences must be lookt to our tongues must speak reverently considering God is in Heaven and we on Earth Eccles 5. 2. and we must have warrant from Gods own word for the words we utter before him Our sences must be guarded else at the ear or eye especially something or other may enter that may disturb prayer and hinder it from being so fervent and effectual You see what we must watch over In the third place I am to shew what we must watch for in prayer 1. We must watch for fit seasons to pray There are some times and seasons in which God is neerer than at others and more ready to be sound of them that seek him this the Prophet intimates Esa 55. 6. Seek ●e the Lord while he may be found call ye upon him while he is near These seasons of grace and love are carefully to be observed and improved to the uttermost When the Lord came so near to Jacob as to suffer him to take hold of him that was a special season and Jacob was sensible of it and wrestles lon● and with an holy vigour he keeps his hold and would not let go till he had got the blessing Gen. 32. 29. That also was a special opportunity when the Lord spake unto Moses face to face as a man speaketh to his friend Exod. 33. 11. Moses improves this and beggs for the Lords presence with him and with the people of Israel and having prevailed for this he adds further Lord I beseech thee shew me thy glory v. 18. Hereupon the Lord made his goodness to pass before him and proclaimed The Lord God merciful and gracious long suffering abundant in goodness and in truth keeping mercy for thousands f●rgiving Iniquity Transgression and Sin 2. We must watch for Admonitions from Conscience unto Prayer When Conscience says Thou hast not yet prayed in secret now go and pour out thy heart before him that sees in secret Thou hast not yet pray'd in thy Family Call all of thy Houshold together and joyn in begging that the Lord would have mercy upon all Conscience is by no means to be dis-regarded but its admonition should be taken The Authority which the Lord allows to Conscience is great and its office is of a large extent Conscience is a Witness and a Judge and a Monitour As a Witness it takes notice of the evil which we do of the good which we refuse to do and likewise observes when we are careful of our duty As a Judg it acquits or condemns according as we have been either good and faithful or evil and sloathful Servants As a Monitour it tells us before hand of our duty and as we would avoid its Accusations and Reproaches we should not venture upon any sin which it crys out against nor neglect prayer or any other duty which it charges us to perform as we will answer it before God 3. We must watch for the motions of the spirit unto prayer When the Holy Ghost moves to this duty and his motions are heeded and obeyed we are to conclude that the same spirit which moves to prayer will assist in prayer 'T is a wonderful priviledge that the Spirit is sent unto the Churches and is speaking and striving for their good Every one should have an ear to hear what the spirit says Rev. 3. ult When the Spirit speaks concerning sin this is not the way therefore avoid it Oh do not this abominable thing which God ha●es we must by no means consent to evil When the Spirit says concerning duty this is t●e way walk in it Esa 30. 31. we must by all means yeild unto that which is good If the Lord by his Spirit says Seek my Face with the greatest forwardness we should reply Thy Face Lord will we seek and he will not then hide his Face from us nor put his Servants away in anger The motions of the Spirit unto prayer are twofold Ordinary Extraordinary 1. There are more ordinary motions unto prayer 'T is the mind and will of the Spirit that our usual times for prayer of all sorts should be observed and though deadness and indisposition be never so great and our hearts draw back from the Throne of Grace yet we must go thither Experience teaches that where deadness at the beginning of prayer has seemed invincible yet of a sudden it has been removed and the duty has been carried on and concluded with more than ordinary enlargements The Israelites were commanded to go forward when they came to the red Sea they might have answered what would you have us march into the water and be drowned Well but forward they go and the water is dried up before them Exod. 14. So truly many times when about to pray there is great listlesness and many discouragements Yet we must go forward and engage in our duty and the Sea is dryed up before us these discouragements are removed 2. These are more extraordinary motions of the Spirit unto Prayer Upon some remarkable Providence either cross or kindness upon the hearing of some more than ordinary affecting Truths upon some special manifesttions by way of quickning and peace